The river '''Lhûn''' or Westronized '''Lune''' was a river of north-western [[Eriador]]. It gave its name to the [[Gulf of Lune]] and the [[Ered Luin|Mountains of Lune]].

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The river '''Lhûn''' ([[Sindarin|S]], pron. {{IPA|[ˈɬuːːn]}}) or [[Westron]]ized '''Lune''' was a river of north-western [[Eriador]]. It gave its name to the [[Gulf of Lune]] and the [[Ered Luin|Mountains of Lune]].

==History==

==History==

Of old, the Lhûn had been a line of defense: first against Sauron, and later against the [[Witch-king]].

Of old, the Lhûn had been a line of defense: first against Sauron, and later against the [[Witch-king]].

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Following the forging of the [[One Ring]] and the [[Sack of Eregion]], [[Sauron]] ruled most of Eriador. [[Gil-galad]] and [[Elendil]] were desperately protecting the [[Grey Havens]], and managed to hold the Lhûn.<ref>{{HM|UT}}, "[[The History of Galadriel and Celeborn]]", "Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn"</ref>

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Following the forging of [[the One Ring]] and the [[Sack of Eregion]], [[Sauron]] ruled most of Eriador. [[Gil-galad]] and [[Elendil]] were desperately protecting the [[Grey Havens]], and managed to hold the Lhûn.<ref>{{HM|UT}}, "[[The History of Galadriel and Celeborn]]", "Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn"</ref>

In the [[Third Age]], the Lhûn formed the border between [[Mithlond]] and [[Arnor]].<ref>{{HM|AA}}, "Eriador, Arnor and the Heirs of Isildur"</ref> During the [[Angmar War|War with Angmar]], it formed the end of the [[Witch-king]]'s influence: many of the Dúnedain fled across it. When [[Eärnil II]] came, passage was won back over it. With their defeat imminent, many of the Witch-king's minions drowned in the river Lhûn.<ref>{{HM|AA}}, "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion"</ref>

In the [[Third Age]], the Lhûn formed the border between [[Mithlond]] and [[Arnor]].<ref>{{HM|AA}}, "Eriador, Arnor and the Heirs of Isildur"</ref> During the [[Angmar War|War with Angmar]], it formed the end of the [[Witch-king]]'s influence: many of the Dúnedain fled across it. When [[Eärnil II]] came, passage was won back over it. With their defeat imminent, many of the Witch-king's minions drowned in the river Lhûn.<ref>{{HM|AA}}, "Gondor and the Heirs of Anarion"</ref>

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==Etymology==

==Etymology==

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The meaning of Lhûn is not known. Originally, Tolkien envisioned it as [[Noldorin]] for "blue". ''Lhûn'', and especially the initial ''/lh/'', may have been valid in Noldorin, it was not so in [[Sindarin]], so Tolkien had to rewrite the etymology. He considered the following the following:

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The meaning of ''Lhûn'' is not known. In connection with its first appearance, in a manuscript dating from ca. 1940, the translation "Blue River" is given.<ref>{{HM|TI}}, "VI. The Council of Elrond (1): The Third Version, (iii)", p. 124</ref><ref name=VT48a5>{{VT|48a5}}</ref> Apparently, Tolkien originally envisioned it as [[Noldorin]] for "blue" (cf. [[Sindarin]] ''[[luin]]'').<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}} (entry for LUG<sup>2</sup>-)</ref> ''Lhûn'', and especially the initial ''/lh/'', may have been valid in Noldorin, it was not so in [[Sindarin]], so Tolkien had to rewrite the etymology. He considered the following:<ref name=VT48a5/><ref>{{PE|17}}, pp. 136-7</ref>

In the Third Age, the Lhûn formed the border between Mithlond and Arnor.[2] During the War with Angmar, it formed the end of the Witch-king's influence: many of the Dúnedain fled across it. When Eärnil II came, passage was won back over it. With their defeat imminent, many of the Witch-king's minions drowned in the river Lhûn.[3]

Course

The river Lhûn found its origin in the First Age or before, but following the War of Wrath, its course was severely altered. Its original course is no longer recorded in history, but after the breaking of the Blue Mountains, it flowed in the Gulf of Lhûn.[4] The river had its origin in the north of the Blue Mountains, and had two tributaries: the Little Lune and an unnamed river that had its origin in the Emyn Uial.

Etymology

The meaning of Lhûn is not known. In connection with its first appearance, in a manuscript dating from ca. 1940, the translation "Blue River" is given.[5][6] Apparently, Tolkien originally envisioned it as Noldorin for "blue" (cf. Sindarinluin).[7]Lhûn, and especially the initial /lh/, may have been valid in Noldorin, it was not so in Sindarin, so Tolkien had to rewrite the etymology. He considered the following:[6][8]